DADD, death activator death domain protein

ABSTRACT

Polynucleotides encoding DADD protein are also disclosed, along with vectors, host cells, and methods of making DADD protein. Methods of identifying inhibitors of DADD death domain binding and inhibitors identified by such methods are also disclosed.

CROSS-RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/056,383 filed Apr. 7, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,838. The contents of this referenced application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tumor necrosis factor (herein “TNF”) is a cytokine which produces a wide range of cellular activities. TNF causes an inflammatory response, which can be beneficial, such as in mounting an immune response to a pathogen, or when overexpressed can lead to other detrimental effects of inflammation.

The cellular effects of TNF are initiated by the binding of TNF to its receptors (TNF-Rs) on the surface of target cells. The isolation of polynucleotides encoding TNF-Rs and variant forms of such receptors has been described in European patent publication Nos. EP 308,378 , EP 393,438 , EP 433,900 , EP 526,905. and EP 568,925; in PCT patent publication Nos. WO91/03553 and WO93/19777; and by Schall et al., Cell 61:361-370 (1990) (disclosing the P55 type TNF receptor). Processes for purification of TNF-Rs have also been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,296,592.

Native TNF-Rs are characterized by distinct extracellular, transmembrane and intracellular domains. The primary purpose of the extracellular domain is to present a binding site for TNF on the outside of the cell. When TNF is bound to the binding site, a “signal” is transmitted to the inside of the cell through the transmembrane and intracellular domains, indicating that binding has occurred. Transmission or “transduction” of the signal to the inside of the cell occurs by a change in conformation of the transmembrane and/or intracellular domains of the receptor. This signal is “received” by the binding of proteins and other molecules to the intracellular domain of the receptor, resulting in the effects seen upon TNF stimulation. Two distinct TNF receptors of ˜55 kd (“TNF-R1”) and ˜75 kd (“TNF-R2”) have been identified. Numerous studies with anti-TNF receptor antibodies have demonstrated that TNF-R1 is the receptor which signals the majority of the pleiotropic activities of TNF.

The domain required for signaling cytotoxicity and other TNF-mediated responses has been mapped to the ˜80 amino acid near the C-terminus of TNF-R1. This domain is therefore termed the “death domain” (hereinafter referred to as “TNF-R death domain”) (see, Tartaglia et al., Cell 74:845-853 (1993)). Other proteins have been identified which also have regions homologous to the TNF-R death domain. These regions are also referred to generically as “death domains.” Examples of proteins having such a death domain include Fas (Tartaglia et al., Cell 74: 845-853 (1993)), FADD (Chinnaiyan et al., Cell 81: 505-512 (1995)), RIP (Stanger et al., Cell 81: 513-523 (1995)), TRADD (Hsu et al., Cell 81: 495-504 (1995)), DR3 (Chinnaiyan et al., Science 274: 990-992 (1996)), and DR4 (Pan et al., Science, 276: 111-113 (1997)).

One activity produced by the interaction of TNF with TNF-R is cell death or apoptosis. It has been determined that the cell death process is mediated by the interaction of the death domains of TNF-R and other death domain-containing proteins. After binding of TNF to TNF-R, such proteins associate, forming homodimer and heterodimers, resulting in the instigation of the apoptotic process. As a result, inhibiting the interaction of death domain proteins will inhibit the induction of apoptosis.

It would, therefore, be desireable to identify new death domain-containing proteins which may be involved in the apoptotic process in order to in turn identify inhibitors of death domain associations and the apoptotic process resulting therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicants have for the first time identified novel DADD proteins and have isolated polynucleotides encoding such proteins.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a composition comprising an isolated polynucleotide encoding a protein having DADD protein activity. In preferred embodiments, the polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12;     -   (b) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 794 to nucleotide 3052;     -   (c) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 1295 to nucleotide 3052;     -   (d) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 2726 to nucleotide 2929;     -   (e) a polynucleotide comprising a fragment of the nucleotide         sequence of SEQ ID NO:12;     -   (f) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;     -   (g) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 167 to amino         acid 753;     -   (h) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 645 to amino         acid 712;     -   (i) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising a         fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13; and     -   (j) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent         conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in         (a)-(i).         In certain preferred embodiments, the polynucleotide is operably         linked to an expression control sequence. The invention also         provides a host cell, including bacterial, yeast, insect and         mammalian cells, transformed with such polynucleotide         compositions.

Processes are also provided for producing a DADD protein, which comprises:

-   -   (a) growing a culture of the host cell transformed with such         polynucleotide compositions in a suitable culture medium; and     -   (b) purifying the DADD protein from the culture.         The protein produced according to such methods is also provided         by the present invention.

Compositions comprising a protein having DADD protein activity are also disclosed. In preferred embodiments the protein comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;     -   (b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 167         to amino acid 753;     -   (c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 645         to amino acid 712; and     -   (d) fragments of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;         the protein being substantially free from other mammalian         proteins. Such compositions may further comprise a         pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Compositions comprising an antibody which specifically reacts with such DADD protein are also provided by the present invention.

Methods are also provided for identifying an inhibitor of binding of a DADD protein to a second protein having a death domain which comprise:

-   -   (a) combining said DADD protein with said second protein, said         combination forming a first binding mixture;     -   (b) measuring the amount of binding between the DADD protein and         the second protein in the first binding mixture;     -   (c) combining a compound with the DADD protein and the second         protein to form a second binding mixture;     -   (d) measuring the amount of binding between the DADD protein and         the second protein in the second binding mixture; and     -   (e) comparing the amount of binding in the first binding mixture         with the amount of binding in the second binding mixture;         wherein the compound is capable of inhibiting binding when a         decrease in the amount of binding occurs in the second mixture         as compared to the first mixture. In certain preferred         embodiments the second protein is either a protein comprising         the death domain of TNF-R or a DADD protein. In other preferred         embodiments, the DADD protein used in such method comprises an         amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:     -   (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;     -   (b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 167         to amino acid 753;     -   (c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 645         to amino acid 712; and     -   (d) fragments of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;         Compositions comprising inhibitors identified according to such         method are also provided. Such compositions may include         pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

Methods are also provided for preventing or ameliorating an inflammatory condition which comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a protein having DADD protein activity and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Other embodiments provide methods of inhibiting TNF-R death domain binding comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a protein having DADD protein activity and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Methods of preventing or ameliorating an inflammatory condition or of inhibiting DADD death domain binding are provided, which comprise administering to a mammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of inhibitors of DADD death domain binding, are also provided.

Methods of identifying an inhibitor of DADD death domain binding are also provided by the present invention which comprise:

-   -   (a) transforming a cell with a first polynucleotide encoding a         DADD protein, a second polynucleotide encoding a second protein         having a death domain, and at least one reporter gene, wherein         the expression of the reporter gene is regulated by the binding         of the DADD protein encoded by the first polynucleotide to the         second protein encoded by the second polynucleotide;     -   (b) growing the cell in the presence of and in the absence of a         compound; and     -   (c) comparing the degree of expression of the reporter gene in         the presence of and in the absence of the compound;         wherein the compound is capable of inhibiting DADD death domain         binding when a decrease in the degree of expression of the         reporter gene occurs. In preferred embodiments, the second         protein is a DADD protein or a protein containing the TNF-R         death domain. In other preferred embodiments, the cell is a         yeast cell and the first polynucleotide is selected from the         group consisting of:     -   (a) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12;     -   (b) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 794 to nucleotide 3052;     -   (c) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 1295 to nucleotide 3052;     -   (d) a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ         ID NO:12 from nucleotide 2726 to nucleotide 2929;     -   (e) a polynucleotide comprising a fragment of the nucleotide         sequence of SEQ ID NO:12;     -   (f) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13;     -   (g) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 167 to amino         acid 753;     -   (h) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising the         amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 from amino acid 645 to amino         acid 712;     -   (i) a polynucleotide encoding a DADD protein comprising a         fragment of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:13; and     -   (j) a polynucleotide capable of hybridizing under stringent         conditions to any one of the polynucleotides specified in         (a)-(i).         In other preferred embodiments, the second polynucleotides is         also selected from the preceding list.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The EST database (GenBank) was screened using the following sequence from the death domain sequence of human RIP (tblastn):

(SEQ ID NO:1) IRENLGKHWKNCARKLGFTQSQIDEIDHDYERDGLKEKVYQMLQKWVMR EGIKGATVGKLAQALHQCSRIDLLSSLT A homo sapiens cDNA clone (Length=433) (gb N55392) was identified in the screen. The clone had 39% identity (15/38) and 50% homology (19/38) with RIP as shown below:

RIP RDGLKEKVYQMLQKWVMREGIKGATVGKLAQALHQCSR (32–69 SEQ ID NO:1) RD L E++  ML  W  R+  +    G L QAL Q  R clone RDDLDEQIRHMLFSWAERQAGQPGAVGLLVQALEQSDR (668–705 SEQ ID NO:13) The sequence of the clone N55392 follows:

(SEQ ID NO:2) TGGACTGGCC AGCCGTGGCC AAAACCTGGG GGTGTCCTAC CGGGAGTGCA GCGATCCGGC ACGAGTTCCG GGATGATCTG GATGAGCAGA TCCGTCACAT GCTCTTCTCC TGGGCTGAGC GCCAGGCTGG GCAGCCAGGG NTGTNGGGGC TCCTGGTGCA GGCCCTGGAG CAGAGTGACC GGCAGACCGT GGCTGAAGAG GTGCGCGCAG TCTTGGAGCT CGGCCGCCGC AAGTACCAGG ACAGCATCCG ACGCATGGGC TTGGCCCCAA GGACCCCGCT CTGCCTGGCT CCTCGGGCTC CACAGCCCCC AGGAGCCTGC CCCAGGCCTT AGGGCCCCAA CAGAACTTTT TAGGCTGGGC CCAGAATATT CCCCAGGTGG AATGGGCAGA ACCCCAACCN TTCAAAGTCT CTCCAAGTGTG TGGGGGACG NTT This clone also showed 93% identity with another Homo sapiens cDNA clone (gb N39432) over a 159 bp overlap. This clone is 423 bp. The sequence of clone N39432 (3′−−>5′) follows:

(SEQ ID NO:3) GAAAGAAACA GTGCAGTTTT GTTGCTCACA GGGACCCGTC CCCACACACT GGAGAGACTT GAAGGTGGGG GCTCTGCATN CCACTGGGGA ATATCTGGGC CAGCCTAAAA GTCTGTGGGG CCTAGGCTGG GCAGGCTCTG GGGGCTGTGG AGCCGAGGAG CCAGGCAGAG CGGGGTCCTT GGGGGCCAAG CCATGCGTCG GATGCTGTCC TGGTACTTGC GGCGGCCGAG CTCCAAGACT GCGCGCACCT CTTCAGCCAC GTCCTGCCGG TCACTCTGCT CCAGGGCCTG CACCAGGAAG CCCCACAGCC CCTGGCTGCC CAGCCTNGGC GCTCAGCCAG GAGAAGAGCA TGTGACGGAT CTGCTCATCC AGATCATCCC GGAACTCGTG CCGGATGCGC TGCACCTCCC GGTAGACACC CCN

Two sets of PCR primers were designed to amplify 423 bp and 187 bp from human cDNA. An HL60 cDNA library was used as template. The first set was designed to cover the entire sequence of the clone N55392 to amplify 423 bp.

(SEQ ID NO:4) 5′ primer: GGG GGT GTC CTA CCGGGA GTG CA (23 mer) (SEQ ID NO:5) 3′ primer: GAA AGA AAC AGT GCA GTT TTG TTG CTC (27 mer) The second set was design to amplify 187 bp, using the sequence of both clones identified in the search.

(SEQ ID NO:6) 5′ primer: CCG CCG CCA GTA CCA GGA CAG CAT (24 mer) (SEQ ID NO:7) 3′ primer: CCC ACA CAC TGG AGA GAC TTG AAG (24 mer)

The second set of primers generated a 187 bp fragment with an HL60 library as template. This DNA fragment was used as a probe to screen an HL60 library. The HL60 cDNA library used for this first screening was cloned into the pMT vector for screening in bacteria (colony lifting method).

Two clones (clone1 (SEQ ID NO:8) & clone2 (SEQ ID NO:9)) were isolated from this screen. The sequences are 2844 bp and 2195 bp respectively. Clone 2 contains two potential open reading frames of 642 and 655 amino acids depending of which ATG is considered. The region containing these two ATGs is not present in clone 1. The predicted proteins encoded by clone 2 contain a potential death domain at the C-terminus.

A second library was screened using a random primed U937 cDNA library in lambda phage. The probe used for this screening was a 779 bp fragment from clone 2 from the first screen. This fragment was at the 3′end of clone 2 and was generated by AccI-EcoRI digestion.

Three positive clones were isolated. The sequence of clone32 thus isolated is reported as. SEQ ID NO:10. The sequence of these clones gave more information on the 5′end but didn't give the full length cDNA.

To clone the 5′end of the cDNA RACE PCR and primer extended methods were used. In both cases, a primer at the 5′end of clone 32 was used to extend the cDNA toward the 5′end. A human heart and human brain libraries were used for the RACE PCR and a human brain library was used for the primer extended library. Multiple clones were obtained by both techniques. The sequence of clone PE6 thus isolated is reported as SEQ ID NO:11.

Compilation of the sequences for clone 2 , clone 32 and clone PE6 give a complete cDNA of 3205 bp for DADD (SEQ ID NO:12). The predicted amino acid sequence encoded thereby is reported as SEQ ID NO:13. There are two potential predicted open reading frames in the same frame, encoding 753 amino acids (for the most upstream ATG at amino acid 1 of SEQ ID NO:13) and 586 amino acids starting at the downstream ATG (amino acid 167 of SEQ ID NO:13). The predicted proteins have a death domain at the C-terminus of the protein (amino acids 645-712 of SEQ ID NO:13).

Rabbit antibodies were raised against the death domain portion of DADD. The antigen was in the form of a GST-DD fusion protein or a MBP-DD fusion protein. Western blot analysis showed a specific band around 55 kDa in Cos cells with the serum 7008 as well as with 7006 to a lesser extent. Multiple human tissue analysis clearly showed a band around the same size (55 kDa) in kidney and liver and to a lesser extent in heart. There was no detection of this protein in brain, lung and skeletal muscle.

Two expression vectors with the two potential open reading frames of 753 and 586 amino acids vere expressed with a Flag tag at the N-terminus in Cos cells. Western blot using the serum raised against the DADD death domain showed, in both cases, a band around 55 kDa (as the endogenous protein) plus a band at the expected size of the full length protein around 83 kDa and 65 kDa respectively. On the other hand, a Western blot with the Flag antibody shows a band at the full length size in both cases plus a band at around 30 kDa and 15 kDa respectively.

These results show that the two proteins of 753aa and 586aa are cleaved at the same site giving a 55 kDa C-terminal product which comigrate with the endogenous protein originally detected, and an N-terminal product around 30 kDa and 15 kDa respectively.

Co-immunoprecipitation experiments using the serum 7008 raised against the DD of DADD shows that the 30 kDa N-terminus portion of the 753aa protein is co-immunoprecipitated with the C-terminal part containing the DD. Preliminary experiments also show that DADD co-immunoprecipitate FADD and MADD (Chinnaiyan et al., Cell 81:505-512 (1995); Schierella et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272: 12063-12075 (1997)).

The DADD protein sequence contains five full and two half leucine rich repeats. There are five tandems of 23 amino acid residues plus two half repeats of 12 and 9 residues. This leucine rich region is believed to be a protein-protein interaction domain. The region between this Leu-rich domain and the death domain shows some homology with ankyrin proteins. The homology between DADD and ankyrins correspond to the spectrin domain of the ankyrins, which is know to be a protein-protein interaction domain.

DADD was analysed in assays to investigate different pathways which are known to be activated by TNF (apoptosis, Jnk activation and NFkB activation). DADD activated apoptosis in the SEAP assay (secreted alkaline phosphatase).

The DADD cDNA was deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209) on Apr. 1, 1998 , as accession number ATCC 209731. The deposited cDNA encodes the protein of SEQ ID NO: 13 with an additional Flag tag as described above.

Polynucleotides hybridizing to the polynucleotides of the present invention under stringent conditions and highly stringent conditions are also part of the present invention. As used herein, “highly stringent conditions” include, for example, 0.2×SSC at 65° C.; and “stringent conditions” include, for example, 4×SSC at 65° C. or 50% formamide and 4×SSC at 42° C.

For the purposes of the present application, “DADD protein” includes proteins which exhibit DADD protein activity. For the purposes of the present application, a protein is defined as having “DADD protein activity” when it binds to a protein having a death domain, including without limitation the TNF-R death domain or the DADD death domain. Activity can be measured by using any assay which will detect binding to a death domain protein. Examples of such assays include without limitation the interaction trap assays and assays in which TNF-R death domain protein which is affixed to a surface in a manner conducive to observing binding.

Fragments of the DADD protein which are capable of interacting with death domains or which are capable of inhibiting death domain binding (i.e., exhibit DADD protein activity) are also encompassed by the present invention. Fragments of the DADD protein may be in linear form or they may be cyclized using known methods, for example, as described in H. U. Saragovi, et al., Bio/Technology 10, 773-778 (1992) and in R. S. McDowell, et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 114, 9245-9253 (1992), both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such fragments may be fused to carrier molecules such as immunoglobulins for many purposes, including increasing the valency of DADD protein binding sites. For example, fragments of the DADD protein may be fused through “linker” sequences to the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin. For a bivalent form of the DADD protein, such a fusion could be to the Fc portion of an IgG molecule. Other immunoglobulin isotypes may also be used to generate such fusions. For example, a DADD protein-IgM fusion would generate a decavalent form of the DADD protein of the invention.

The isolated polynucleotide of the invention may be operably linked to an expression control sequence such as the pMT2 or pED expression vectors disclosed in Kaufman et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 4485-4490 (1991), in order to produce the DADD protein recombinantly. Many suitable expression control sequences are known in the art. General methods of expressing recombinant proteins are also known and are exemplified in R. Kaufman, Methods in Enzymology 185, 537-566 (1990). As defined herein “operably linked” means that the isolated polynucleotide of the invention and the expression control sequence are situated within a vector or cell in such a way that the DADD protein is expressed by a host cell which has been transformed (transfected) with the ligated polynucleotide/expression control sequence.

A number of types of cells may act as suitable host cells for expression of the DADD protein. Host cells include, for example, monkey COS cells, Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, human kidney 293 cells, human epidermal A431 cells, human Colo205 cells, 3T3 cells, CV-1 cells, other transformed primate cell lines, normal diploid cells, cell strains derived from in vitro culture of primary tissue, primary explants, HeLa cells, mouse L cells, BHK, HL-60 , U937 , HaK or Jurkat cells.

The DADD protein may also be produced by operably linking the isolated polynucleotide of the invention to suitable control sequences in one or more insect expression vectors, and employing an insect expression system. Materials and methods for baculovirus/insect cell expression systems are commercially available in kit form from, e.g., Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif., U.S.A. (the MaxBac® kit), and such methods are well known in the art, as described in Summers and Smith, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 1555 (1987) incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, it may be possible to produce the DADD protein in lower eukaryotes such as yeast or in prokaryotes such as bacteria Potentially suitable yeast strains include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces strains, Candida, or any yeast strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins. Potentially suitable bacterial strains include Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhimurium, or any bacterial strain capable of expressing heterologous proteins. If the DADD protein is made in yeast or bacteria, it may be necessary to modify the protein produced therein, for example by phosphorylation or glycosylation of the appropriate sites, in order to obtain the functional DADD protein. Such covalent attachments may be accomplished using known chemical or enzymatic methods.

The DADD protein of the invention may also be expressed as a product of transgenic animals, e.g., as a component of the milk of transgenic cows, goats, pigs, or sheep which are characterized by somatic or germ cells containing a nucleotide sequence encoding the DADD protein.

The DADD protein of the invention may be prepared by culturing transformed host cells under culture conditions suitable to express the recombinant protein. The resulting expressed protein may then be purified from such culture (i.e., from culture medium or cell extracts) using known purification processes, such as gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purification of the DADD protein may also include an affinity column containing the TNF-R death domain, the DADD death domain or other death domain protein; one or more column steps over such affinity resins as concanavalin A-agarose, heparin-toyopearl® or Cibacrom blue 3GA Sepharose®; one or more steps involving hydrophobic interaction chromatography using such resins as phenyl ether, butyl ether, or propyl ether; or immunoaffinity chromatography.

Alternatively, the DADD protein of the invention may also be expressed in a form which will facilitate purification. For example, it may be expressed as a fusion protein, such as those of maltose binding protein (MBP) or glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Kits for expression and purification of such fusion proteins are commercially available from New England BioLab (Beverly, Mass.) and Pharmacia (Piscataway, N.J.), respectively. The TNF-R ligand protein can also be tagged with an epitope and subsequently purified by using a specific antibody directed to such epitope. One such epitope (“Flag”) is commercially available from Kodak (New Haven, Conn.).

Finally, one or more reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) steps employing hydrophobic RP-HPLC media, e.g., silica gel having pendant methyl or other aliphatic groups, can be employed to further purify the DADD protein. Some or all of the foregoing purification steps, in various combinations, can also be employed to provide a substantially homogeneous isolated recombinant protein. The DADD protein thus purified is substantially free of other mammalian proteins and is defined in accordance with the present invention as an “isolated DADD protein.”

DADD proteins may also be produced by known conventional chemical synthesis. Methods for constructing the proteins of the present invention by synthetic means are known to those skilled in the art. The synthetically-constructed protein sequences, by virtue of sharing primary, secondary or tertiary structural and/or conformational characteristics with DADD proteins may possess biological properties in common therewith, including DADD protein activity. Thus, they may be employed as biologically active or immunological substitutes for natural, purified DADD proteins in screening of therapeutic compounds and in immunological processes for the development of antibodies.

The DADD proteins provided herein also include proteins characterized by amino acid sequences similar to those of purified DADD proteins but into which modification are naturally provided or deliberately engineered. For example, modifications in the peptide or DNA sequences can be made by those skilled in the art using known techniques. Modifications of interest in the DADD protein sequences may include the replacement, insertion or deletion of a selected amino acid residue in the coding sequence. For example, one or more of the cysteine residues may be deleted or replaced with another amino acid to alter the conformation of the molecule. Mutagenic techniques for such replacement, insertion or deletion are well known to those skilled in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,584).

Other fragments and derivatives of the sequences of DADD proteins which would be expected to retain DADD protein activity in whole or in part and may thus be useful for screening or other immunological methodologies may also be easily made by those skilled in the art given the disclosures herein. Such modifications are believed to be encompassed by the present invention.

DADD protein of the invention may also be used to screen for agents which are capable of inhibiting or blocking binding of a DADD protein to the death domain of TNF-R, DADD or other protein, and thus may act as inhibitors of death domain binding and/or the biological activity normally brought on by such binding (e.g., apoptosis). Binding assays using a desired binding protein, immobilized or not, are well known in the art and may be used for this purpose using the DADD protein of the invention. Appropriate screening assays may be cell-based or cell-free. Alternatively, purified protein based screening assays may be used to identify such agents. For example, DADD protein may be immobilized in purified form on a carrier and binding to purified death domain proteins may be measured in the presence and in the absence of potential inhibiting agents. A suitable binding assay may alternatively employ purified death domain protein immobilized on a carrier, with a soluble form of a DADD protein of the invention. Any DADD protein may be used in the screening assays described above.

In such a screening assay, a first binding mixture is formed by combining a death domain-containing protein and DADD protein, and the amount of binding in the first binding mixture (B_(o)) is measured. A second binding mixture is also formed by combining the death domain-containing protein, DADD protein, and the compound or agent to be screened, and the amount of binding in the second binding mixture (B) is measured. The amounts of binding in the first and second binding mixtures are compared, for example, by performing a B/B_(o) calculation. A compound or agent is considered to be capable of inhibiting binding if a decrease in binding in the second binding mixture as compared to the first binding mixture is observed. The formulation and optimization of binding mixtures is within the level of skill in the art. Such binding mixtures may also contain buffers and salts necessary to enhance or to optimize binding, and additional control assays may be included in the screening assay of the invention.

Alternatively, appropriate screening assays may be cell based. For example, the binding or interaction between a DADD protein and death domain protein can be measured in yeast.

Compounds found to reduce, preferably by at least about 10%, more preferably greater than about 50% or more, the binding activity of DADD protein to a death domain may thus be identified and then secondarily screened in other binding assays, including in vivo assays. By these means compounds having inhibitory activity for DADD death domain binding which may be suitable as anti-inflammatory agents may be identified.

Isolated DADD protein may be useful in treating, preventing or ameliorating inflammatory conditions and other conditions, such as cachexia, autoimmune disease, graft versus host reaction, osteoporosis, colitis, myelogenous leukemia, diabetes, wasting, and atherosclerosis. Isolated DADD protein may be used itself as an inhibitor of TNF-R death domain binding or to design inhibitors of TNF-R death domain binding. Inhibitors of binding of DADD protein to the TNF-R death domain (“TNF-R intracellular binding inhibitors”) are also useful for treating such conditions.

The present invention encompasses both pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutic methods of treatment or use which employ isolated DADD protein and/or binding inhibitors of TNF-R intracellular binding.

Isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitors (from whatever source derived, including without limitation from recombinant and non-recombinant cell lines) may be used in a pharmaceutical composition when combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Such a composition may also contain (in addition to DADD protein or binding inhibitor and a carrier) diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, and other materials well known in the art. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means a non-toxic material that does not interfere with the effectiveness of the biological activity of the active ingredient(s). The characteristics of the carrier will depend on the route of administration. The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may also contain cytokines, lymphokines, or other hematopoietic factors such as M-CSF, GM-CSF, TNF, IL-2 , IL-3 , IL-4 , IL-5 , IL-6 , IL-7 , IL-8 , IL-9 , G-CSF, Meg-CSF, stem cell factor, and erythropoietin. The pharmaceutical composition may further contain other anti-inflammatory agents. Such additional factors and/or agents may be included in the pharmaceutical composition to produce a synergistic effect with isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor, or to minimize side effects caused by the isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor. Conversely, isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor may be included in formulations of the particular cytokine, lymphokine, other hematopoietic factor, thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factor, or anti-inflammatory agent to minimize side effects of the cytokine, lymphokine, other hematopoietic factor, thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factor, or anti-inflammatory agent.

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be in the form of a liposome in which isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor is combined, in addition to other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, with amphipathic agents such as lipids which exist in aggregated form as micelles, insoluble monolayers, liquid crystals, or lamellar layers in aqueous solution. Suitable lipids for liposomal formulation include, without limitation, monoglycerides, diglycerides, sulfatides, lysolecithin, phospholipids, saponin, bile acids, and the like. Preparation of such liposomal formulations is within the level of skill in the art, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,235,871; 4,501,728; 4,837,028; and 4,737,323 , all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As used herein, the term “therapeutically effective amount” means the total amount of each active component of the pharmaceutical composition or method that is sufficient to show a meaningful patient benefit, i.e., treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of an inflammatory response or condition, or an increase in rate of treatment, healing, prevention or amelioration of such conditions. When applied to an individual active ingredient, administered alone, the term refers to that ingredient alone. When applied to a combination, the term refers to combined amounts of the active ingredients that result in the therapeutic effect, whether administered in combination, serially or simultaneously.

In practicing the method of treatment or use of the present invention, a therapeutically effective amount of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor is administered to a mammal having a condition to be treated. Isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor may be administered in accordance with the method of the invention either alone or in combination with other therapies such as treatments employing cytokines, lymphokines or other hematopoietic factors. When co-administered with one or more cytokines, lymphokines or other hematopoietic factors, isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor may be administered either simultaneously with the cytokine(s), lymphokine(s), other hematopoietic factor(s), thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factors, or sequentially. If administered sequentially, the attending physician will decide on the appropriate sequence of administering isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor in combination with cytokine(s), lymphokine(s), other hematopoietic factor(s), thrombolytic or anti-thrombotic factors.

Administration of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor used in the pharmaceutical composition or to practice the method of the present invention can be carried out in a variety of conventional ways, such as oral ingestion, inhalation, or cutaneous, subcutaneous, or intravenous injection. Intravenous administration to the patient is preferred.

When a therapeutically effective amount of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor is administered orally, isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor will be in the form of a tablet, capsule, powder, solution or elixir. When administered in tablet form, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may additionally contain a solid carrier such as a gelatin or an adjuvant. The tablet, capsule, and powder contain from about 5 to 95% isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor, and preferably from about 25 to 90% isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor. When administered in liquid form, a liquid carrier such as water, petroleum, oils of animal or plant origin such as peanut oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, or sesame oil, or synthetic oils may be added. The liquid form of the pharmaceutical composition may further contain physiological saline solution, dextrose or other saccharide solution, or glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or polyethylene glycol. When administered in liquid form, the pharmaceutical composition contains from about 0.5 to 90% by weight of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor, and preferably from about 1 to 50% isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor.

When a therapeutically effective amount of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor is administered by intravenous, cutaneous or subcutaneous injection, isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor will be in the form of a pyrogen-free, parenterally acceptable aqueous solution. The preparation of such parenterally acceptable protein solutions, having due regard to pH, isotonicity, stability, and the like, is within the skill in the art. A preferred pharmaceutical composition for intravenous, cutaneous, or subcutaneous injection should contain, in addition to isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor, an isotonic vehicle such as Sodium Chloride Injection, Ringer's Injection, Dextrose Injection, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride Injection, Lactated Ringer's Injection, or other vehicle as known in the art. The pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may also contain stabilizers, preservatives, buffers, antioxidants, or other additives known to those of skill in the art.

The amount of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor in the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will depend upon the nature and severity of the condition being treated, and on the nature of prior treatments which the patient has undergone. Ultimately, the attending physician will decide the amount of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor with which to treat each individual patient. Initially, the attending physician will administer low doses of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor and observe the patient's response. Larger doses of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor may be administered until the optimal therapeutic effect is obtained for the patient, and at that point the dosage is not increased further. It is contemplated that the various pharmaceutical compositions used to practice the method of the present invention should contain about 0.1 μg to about 100 mg of isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor per kg body weight.

The duration of intravenous therapy using the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention will vary, depending on the severity of the disease being treated and the condition and potential idiosyncratic response of each individual patient. It is contemplated that the duration of each application of the isolated DADD protein or binding inhibitor will be in the range of 12 to 24 hours of continuous intravenous administration. Ultimately the attending physician will decide on the appropriate duration of intravenous therapy using the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.

Isolated DADD protein of the invention may also be used to immunize animals to obtain polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which specifically react with the DADD protein and which may inhibit TNF-R death domain binding. Such antibodies may be obtained using either the entire DADD protein or fragments of DADD protein as an immunogen. The peptide immunogens additionally may contain a cysteine residue at the carboxyl terminus, and are conjugated to a hapten such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Methods for synthesizing such peptides are known in the art, for example, as in R. P. Merrifield, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 85, 2149-2154 (1963); J. L. Krstenansky, et al., FEBS Lett. 211, 10 (1987).

Monoclonal antibodies binding to DADD protein or to complex carbohydrate moieties characteristic of the DADD glycoprotein may be useful diagnostic agents for the immunodetection of TNF-R ligand protein.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies binding to DADD protein or to complex carbohydrates characteristic of DADD glycoprotein may also be useful therapeutics for both inflammatory conditions and also in the treatment of some forms of cancer where abnormal expression of DADD protein is involved. These neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are capable of blocking the signaling function of the DADD protein. By blocking the binding of DADD protein, certain biological responses to TNF are either abolished or markedly reduced. In the case of cancerous cells or leukemic cells, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against DADD protein may be useful in detecting and preventing the metastatic spread of the cancerous cells, which may be mediated by the DADD protein. The present invention also provides genes corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein. “Corresponding genes” are the regions of the genome that are transcribed to produce the mRNAs from which cDNA polynucleotide sequences are derived and may include contiguous regions of the genome necessary for the regulated expression of such genes. Corresponding genes may therefore include but are not limited to coding sequences, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions, alternatively spliced exons, introns, promoters, enhancers, and silencer or suppressor elements. The corresponding genes can be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequence information disclosed herein. Such methods include the preparation of probes or primers from the disclosed sequence information for identification and/or amplification of genes in appropriate genomic libraries or other sources of genomic materials. An “isolated gene” is a gene that has been separated from the adjacent coding sequences, if any, present in the genome of the organism from which the gene was isolated.

Organisms that have enhanced, reduced, or modified expression of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein are provided. The desired change in gene expression can be achieved through the use of antisense polynucleotides or ribozymes that bind and/or cleave the mRNA transcribed from the gene (Albert and Morris, 1994, Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 15(7): 250-254; Lavarosky et al., 1997, Biochem. Mol. Med. 62(1): 11-22; and Hampel, 1998, Prog. Nucleic Acid Res. Mol. Biol. 58: 1-39; all of which are incorporated by reference herein). Transgenic animals that have multiple copies of the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein, preferably produced by transformation of cells with genetic constructs that are stably maintained within the transformed cells and their progeny, are provided. Transgenic animals that have modified genetic control regions that increase or reduce gene expression levels, or that change temporal or spatial patterns of gene expression, are also provided (see European Patent No. 0 649 464 B1, incorporated by reference herein). In addition, organisms are provided in which the gene(s) corresponding to the polynucleotide sequences disclosed herein have been partially or completely inactivated, through insertion of extraneous sequences into the corresponding gene(s) or through deletion of all or part of the corresponding gene(s). Partial or complete gene inactivation can be accomplished through insertion, preferably followed by imprecise excision, of transposable elements (Plasterk, 1992, Bioessays 14(9): 629-633; Zwaal et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90(16): 7431-7435; Clark et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91(2): 719-722; all of which are incorporated by reference herein), or through homologous recombination, preferably detected by positive/negative genetic selection strategies (Mansour et al., 1988, Nature 336:348-352; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,764; 5,487,992; 5,627,059; 5,631,153; 5,614,396; 5,616,491; and 5,679,523; all of which are incorporated by reference herein). These organisms with altered gene expression are preferably eukaryotes and more preferably are mammals. Such organisms are useful for the development of non-human models for the study of disorders involving the corresponding gene(s), and for the development of assay systems for the identification of molecules that interact with the protein product(s) of the corresponding gene(s).

All references cited herein are incorporated as if fully set forth herein. 

1. A composition comprising a protein having DADD protein activity which comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; (b) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 from amino acid 167 to amino acid 753; and (c) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 from amino acid 645 to amino acid 712, said protein being substantially free from other mammalian proteins, wherein said protein comprises a death domain and a leucine-rich domain, and wherein said protein activates apoptosis.
 2. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 3. A substantially purified polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence encoded by the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited with ATCC as Accession Number
 209731. 4. A substantially purified polypeptide of about 55 kDA to 83 kDa, wherein said protein comprises a death domain comprising amino acid residues 645-712 of SEQ ID NO:13.
 5. A protein according to claim 1, wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 13. 6. A protein according to claim 1, wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 from amino acid 167 to amino acid
 753. 7. A protein according to claim 1, wherein said protein comprises the amino acid sequence of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 from amino acid 645 to amino acid
 712. 